Elevate – a new programme of support for community, voluntary and public sectors
The Public Health Agency (PHA) has commissioned Community Development & Health Network (CDHN) to develop and deliver a new programme of support for the community, voluntary and public sectors. Other partners in the Elevate programme include Rural Community Network, Prospect Awards and Community Evaluation NI.
This initiative is being brought forward as part of the work being led by the PHA to expand community development approaches as a means to reduce health inequalities. Funding has been provided from the HSC Transformation Fund.
The Elevate Programme illustrates how health care transformation can make a real difference - providing opportunities for the development and sharing of skills, knowledge and expertise in community development as a way to tackle health inequalities. Mentoring organisations have been appointed in each Trust area - they are Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership (MEAAP) for the Northern Trust area, Co Down Rural Community Network (CDRCN) for the South Eastern Trust area, ARC Healthy Living Centre for the Western Trust area, Supporting People and Communities Every Day (SPACE) for the Southern area and Women’s Tec for the Belfast Trust area. As part of Elevate, local organisations in each Health and Social Care Trust area will have an opportunity to apply for a place on a Mentoring and Grants programme.
Catherine Murnin, Programme Manager, told us ‘The Programme has a strong emphasis on skills development which is being delivered in three main ways – through the provision of online training, face to face training in each Trust area and through the delivery of the Mentoring Programme.’ Catherine continued ‘We are excited to see the interest that Elevate has generated. This is a great opportunity to share the great work that is already happening across the different sectors and think creatively about reducing health inequalities through evidence-based community development activity’.
Workshops offering Capacity Building Training around health inequalities are running across the region and the portal includes resources, tools and training opportunities and will develop month on month. Visit elevateni.org for information, training dates and other opportunities.
Brendan Bonner, Assistant Director for Public Health (Health Improvement) said, “This is an exciting development to test an innovative approach to working with our partners in the community and voluntary sector exploring how we can collectively work to address improving health outcomes for everyone but in particular those in our community who experience the greatest inequalities. This initiative fulfils the objectives of our Public Health Framework, Making Life Better, by empowering people and promoting collaboration across statutory and non-statutory sectors. The PHA believe this programme can stimulate the sustainable change that is needed to transform health outcomes for everyone.”
For further information on any aspect of the new Elevate Programme, please contact Catherine Murnin on 028 3026 4606 or email catherinemurnin@cdhn.org
